Women's Suffrage

Grant County Journal
November 15, 2010
By Janet Warren
Journal columnist

I have gone out into the community to meet people, and I know I shouldn’t be surprised to find there are a lot of families who are related to each other. Some of those connections you aren’t too willing to admit to. In a big city you take a shot in the dark when you ask if a person knows “so-and-so,” but when I ask people in Ephrata, a lightbulb turns on as I am informed of the connections. Sometimes I think Mike and I are the only ones who don’t have family here, and I have to admit I’m a little jealous. My biggest problem with Ephrata is that I have to drive two hours to get on an airplane to go and visit my family. If my family lived close by, I think Ephrata might be a utopia. Umm…maybe throw in a Kohls.
Last week I got an email from Beverly Mayer telling me about a presentation she was going to make later that day at the HCE (Home and Community Educators) which is sponsored by the Washington State University Extension. She apologized for the late notice, thinking I wouldn’t be able to come. Sometimes those last-minute things fit in my schedule better than a planned one. I happened to be free, so I went on over to the Country Deli where the HCE holds their meetings. A few weeks ago, I had the Grant County Journal print me some business cards because I was afraid if I showed up at a gathering without a proper introduction, I might get thrown out. That hasn’t been the case, and I haven’t been accused of stalking yet.
Marlene Albee, who is the reporter for HCE, spoke to me about the purposes of their group. It was started by Billie Jean Waud around 1980. “Any woman is encouraged to come to learn with us and be curious about this modern world,” Marlene said. Most of the members are retired women from all professions. They get together and discuss timely matters. The subjects studied are varied and include writing wills, telephone fraud, legislative issues, and personal development. Recently, a speaker from Horizon Credit Union in Spokane talked to the group about reverse mortgages and how to maneuver through tight economic times. HCE holds a raffle every meeting for hostess gifts. From these proceeds, they give an “enabling” scholarship through Big Bend Community College to a woman who is re-emerging on the education scene. This year, they hope to be able to give two scholarships.
Christy Price, a WSU faculty member, is a family and consumer science director and diabetic education instructor. She lives in Ephrata and is a great resource for the group and full of ideas for them to use. They also draw on other local people like Beverly Mayer who speak on subjects of interest.
Beverly Mayer, I found out, is a talented seamstress. In 2004 she created 32 authentic costumes for a program, “Songs of the Journey,” celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It was presented by the Grant Singers of Ephrata’s Grant Elementary School. Her grandsons Hunter and Garner got their grandma involved, and in true Beverly-style she went the extra mile.
Beverly is also an author and she presented me with a copy of her book, “Prairie Roses—A tribute to the pioneering women of Washington’s Big Bend Country 1899-1919.” It is a beautiful book with photos of the early days. It was fun for me to read about the history and see pictures of settlers. It also made me more aware of how deeply rooted in Ephrata some of you are. She arrived for her talk at the HCE dressed in period-style clothing and gave a moving presentation on women’s suffrage. Having passion for things in our lives makes us more interesting people, and Bev is awesome!
November is the 100th anniversary of the passage of the Fifth Amendment to the Washington State Constitution which took out the word “male” from the clause related to voting requirements. Official adoption was signed by Governor Hay on November 28, 1910. It took another ten years before the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed. It states simply: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex.”
I was in the second batch of 18-year-olds that was able to vote for president. I didn’t understand why young men could be drafted for war, yet they were not allowed to vote for the person making the decisions. Looking at the women’s suffrage movement through 21st century eyes, it is hard to believe women had to fight so hard to earn this right. In Beverly’s presentation, I learned that in 1909, Mrs. Winifred Stanley of Wilson Creek was a leader in the Ephrata Suffrage League. The Grant County Journal ran an editorial by the League, in which one of the sentiments was “women are compelled to stand idly by while men, with brains the size of peas, are allowed to vote.” I think Wini and I could have been friends. And kudos to Grant County Journal for not censoring what was most likely an unpopular view. A Seattle newspaper announced “Women of the State Get the Ballot by Gift of Men!” As Beverly declared, “I don’t think so. Washington women won permanent equal suffrage only after a long and grueling campaign lasting over 50 years. Freedom to vote came as a ‘triumph’ not as a gift.”
I am pleased to say I have never missed an opportunity to vote. Susan B. Anthony would be proud.

(cartoon)
Susan B. Anthony, referred to as “The GreatGeneral,” was the victim of ridicule by men,including satirical cartoons and newspaper attacks.